Getting into rhythm quickly will be the key: Saina

Published: Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 12:00 [IST]

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New Delhi, Aug 3: Her troubling ankle completely healed, ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal can't wait for the World Championships next week but conceded that months of rigorous preparation would count only if she gets into the rhythm quickly at the London mega-event.

The 21-year-old took a break after the Indonesian Super Series to train for the event and said she will take it one round at a time from August 8 to 14.

"I have been working really hard for the last 4-5 months. There has been a lot of improvement but it will boil down to how well I adjust to the courts in London and play in the initial rounds," Saina told PTI.

"It is a new arena. It is a test event for the London Olympics and we have never played there so we have to adjust to the conditions quickly to take on tougher opponents in the tournament," she added.

The world number six got a bye in the first round and is likely to take on Adrianti Firdasari in the second round.

Saina has a 2-2 record against the Indonesian.

The sixth seeded Indian is likely to face 14th seed Pui Yin Yip of Hong Kong in the pre-quarters but her acid test would be in the quarters where she might meet world number three Wang Xin of China.

Xin has beaten Saina thrice in the past but the Indian won their last encounter at the Sudirman Cup in May. If Saina manages to get past Xin, she might play world number 2 Wang Yihan in the semis.

However, Saina has her feet firmly grounded and said past reputation won't matter in a World Championship and she is not thinking too far.